Potato-fork attachment.



No. 648,804. Patented May I, I900.

' J H SHEEHAN POTATO FORK ATTACHMENT.

(Application filed Sept. 2, 1899.)

(No Model.)

' wood.

7 UNITED i STATES PATEN-T FFICE JOSEPH II. SHEEIIAN, OF LAKE CITY, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES OAVANAGI-I, OF SAME PLACE.

eoTATo FonK ATTAci-i M EN r sPEcIFIcA'rIoN Mining at 6% Letters Patent No. 648,804, dated May 1, 1900. Application filed September 2, 189 g. I Serial No. 729,374; (No model.)

To all 2071 0712 it may 0072/067ZL:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH 1-I. SHEEHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake City, in the county of Missaukeeand State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Potato-Fork Attachments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to improved means for attaching a fulcrum-block to a potatofork; andit consists, substantially, of a brace or bracket which is bolted to the fulcrumblock and clamped to the handle and means for securing the block also to the tine-head.

On the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fork embodying the invention inrmy preferred form. Fig. 2 is a view of the attachment separate from the fork. Fig. 3 shows the several parts of the device.

In the several figures, A represents the handle of the fork, B the tines, and O the tinehead.

D is the fulcrum-block, usually made of I have shown it as rectangular and oblong in cross-section, but it may be differently shaped, if desired.

E represents the brace in my preferred form. It comprises a substantially-fiat portion c and a somewhat trough-shaped portion 6, approximately at right angles to said flat portion. Though not absolutely essential, I deem it advisable to strengthen the brace by having some form of a bracket in the angle formed by these two portions, preferably a triangular-shaped web portion 6 which extends the entire width of the flat portion, but not the whole length of the troughshaped portion. The brace is secured to the fulcrum-block by bolts or otherwise, so that the bottom of the trough is about in line with one edge of the block. These connected parts are then placed on the lower side of the fork with the edge of the block bearing on the tine-head, while the fork-handle rests in the trough concavity. The extremity of the trough portion may have a hole for bolting or screwing to the handle, or a clamping ring or band F, such as is shown in the drawings,

may encircle both the handle and said extremity, being secured by a bolt.

To secure the fulcrum-block firmly to the tine-head, I preferably use bolts G G, having hooked heads, the hooks engaging the tinchead and the bolts passing through the block; but various other means may be adopted for securing these parts together. These hooked bolts, passing through the brace at right angles to the bolts securing the brace to the block, will prevent the block from splitting by rough usage.

Thus it will be seen that I have produced a simple, cheap, compact, and strong device for readily and quickly attaching a wooden fulcrum-block to a fork. By the small act of removing or releasing the clamping-ring or its equivalent and loosening the nuts on the hooked bolts and partly withdrawing the bolts the fulcrum-block can be removed from the fork, and it can be as easily and expeditiously attached.

Without limiting myself to the precise form and arrangement of parts shown,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with the fork handle, tine-head, and fulcrum-block, of a brace comprising a flat portion for attachment to the fulcrum-block, and a trough-shaped portion for engaging the handle, substantially as set forth.

2. In a brace for attaching a fulcrum-block to a fork, the combination of a flat portion for attachment to the fulcrum-block, a troughshaped portion for securing to the handle, and a bracket portion connecting the two said portions for strengthening the brace, substantially as set forth.

, 3. The combination with the fork-handle, tine-head, and. fulcrum-block, of a brace comprising a fiat portion for supporting the said block, a trough-shaped portion having its axis approximately at right angles to Said flat portion for engaging the handle, and a web portion for connecting the two said portions, substantially as set forth.

4. In a brace for attaching a fulcrum-block to a fork-head,the combination of the flat portion 6, for supporting the block, the troughshaped portion 6, for supporting the handle, and the web portion e connecting the said two portions and extending the entire Width of the said flat portion and almost to the free end of the said trough portion, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the fork handle, tine-head, and fulcrum-block, of a brace comprising a fiat portion for supporting the f1i1- crum-block, a trough-shaped portionj forengaging the handle, a web portion for connecting the two said portions, means for securing said trough-shaped portion to said handle, and means for securing said fuicrum-blockto said tine-head, substantially. as set forth.

6. The combination with the fork-handle, tine-head, and fulcrum-block, of the brace E, the clamping-ring F, for securing said brace to said handle, and the hooked bolts G, G, for securing said fulcrum-block to said tine-head, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature :0 in presence of two witnesses. Y

JOSEPH II. SHEEHAN.

Witnesses: M. D. REEDER,

A. J MOCONNEL, 

